Last words have always held a special significance. When someone knows their days are numbered, they often cut through the noise of meaningless chatter and say the words of most importance. We often hear sermons referencing the last words of Jesus as He hung on the cross. But how often do we pay attention to His last teachings after the Last Supper, possibly on the walk to the Garden of Gethsemane? As Jesus walked toward the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew the end was near, so He shared wisdom that they would need for the days ahead. These chapters have become indispensable for believers today. John 17 is my favorite Bible chapter because it shows Jesus’ heart for church unity. If this was what He prayed for in the last moments of His life, it must be important. His disciples certainly caught the vision for church unity because this theme permeates the gospels and epistles. If we want to embrace Christ’s vision for the church and cling to His last words, we need to study what the Bible says about unity. So here are 21 Bible verses about Church unity the world needs right now:
Jesus’ Last Words
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
This kind of love is ingrained in every disciple of Jesus. When you spend time with Him, it becomes a part of who you are. It’s lavish, selfless, and unconditional. When people see you exhibiting this love, they know you must know Jesus. It’s the identifying marker that sets us apart, and it starts with how we love one another.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
As Jesus teaches His disciples what His love is like, He states that the epitome of love is laying down your life for someone. What makes this statement more meaningful is that these words were said the same night He was captured by the Romans and laid down His life for us on the cross. Because He poured Himself out for us, we can love others out of an overflow of how much we’ve been loved.
John 17:20-23
“My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
These verses are some of the most important verses in the Bible for modern-day Christians. They capture the heart of Jesus for those who believe in Him but have never seen Him. As we fulfill the great commission and wait for His return, this unity should infuse every interaction we have with each other. If this is what Jesus prayed for right before the cross, it must be vitally important to our future and our Christian witness. These verses should characterize your life.
The Old Testament
Psalm 133:1
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
This short Psalm, penned by David, is a Psalm of ascent. It that was sung as the Jewish people made pilgrimages to high places. Jerusalem was up on a hill, and the temple was on the mount, so anytime the people from the surrounding regions traveled to Jerusalem for the feasts, they would likely sing psalms of ascent to celebrate coming together with God’s people to worship Him. They looked forward to gathering at the temple, where they knew God’s presence would meet them. Even in ancient times, before the modern church was established, God’s people knew the joy and delight of gathering to worship God together in unity.
Ruth 1:16-17
“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.’”
This infamous statement of devotion and love has lived on through church sermons and Bible studies for decades. Ruth models the type of love and loyalty that Jesus desires for His church. If we stuck by each other’s sides like Ruth did, imagine how we could impact the world. Unity starts with a commitment not to walk away when things get hard. If Ruth had left Naomi, she would have no one. She was widowed and childless, but Ruth chose to remain with her by making this statement of deep devotion. You can tell there was a love in their relationship that went deeper than friendship or even most familial relationships. As the family of God, we should extend this love and support to one another too.
Malachi 2:10
“Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?”
The concept that we are one church under one God is not new. From the very beginning of the Bible, the Jewish (and then Christian) religions stood out because they rejected the concept of polytheism or many gods. We worship one God only. However, God’s triune nature models the self-giving love and oneness that Jesus desires for His church. He prayed that we would be united to the Father and Holy Spirit like He is. When we draw near to God in this way, church unity naturally follows.
The Early Church
Matthew 18:19-20
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
There’s strength in numbers. Protestants in America have grown up in a faith heritage that values individualism. Because we strongly believe that salvation is a personal decision for each individual, we often encourage spiritual growth in an individualist way as well. We can read our Bibles and pray without ever stepping foot in a church building or Bible study…but should we? There’s something so powerful about meeting together with other believers and being encouraged by their faith. In times when we’re struggling, we can be edified by the testimony of another. This verse tells us that God is present in a special way when we gather together.
Acts 4:32
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
The entire story of the early church is a lesson in church unity. The cool part is it’s not a perfect story. The early church was figuring it out one day at a time. And though they weren’t perfect, they were unified in a way that we would benefit from replicating today. Acts 2 says that the believers met together often. They read Scripture, prayed, and broke bread in community. They loved each other and served each other. And when anyone was in need, they were willing to sell their possessions to fill that need. This is true unity!
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Love is not just a feeling. It’s a posture of the heart. It’s a commitment to serve someone selflessly, even when it’s hard. This love is not fleeting – it’s devoted. We don’t love because of each person’s merit or lovability. We love because Jesus first loved us. When we are seeking to show unconditional love, whether or not the person deserves it, we bestow honor and dignity on them. It shows them that they are worth loving because Jesus already loves them. Unity is much more easily achieved when we love like this. If we get stuck withholding love every time we feel wronged or slighted, our hearts become hardened, and our love ceases to be Christlike.
Hebrews 10:25
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The day is coming when Jesus will return. On that day, He will gather His Bride for the wedding feast, and we will rejoice. All nations and peoples will come together at last. Every time we meet together, we get a glimpse into this. Every time a whole room full of people sings the Revelation Song, we get a small peek into our future. Every time we experience unity and joy, it’s a small piece of what God intended community to be apart from sin. Therefore, we should not stop meeting together. Our hearts need to be reminded of what is to come. We need to speak words of hope into each other’s lives when things feel bleak. Jesus is coming back. He has not forgotten us. When He returns, all will be made right. Until then, we can bring heaven to earth a little bit every time we gather.
No Division
Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As humans, we like to gather with people who are like us. We like to look at someone else and see a part of us in them. It’s comfortable and inviting to spend time with people who have similar life experiences as we do. This is not wrong, but it’s not all there is. Jesus modeled a ministry that was available to everyone, no matter their culture, gender, or status. There is something so beautiful and paradoxical when people who are unlike each other become unified. It goes against everything we’re used to. But in time, we realize this kind of unity is even better.
Colossians 3:11
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Jesus broke the status quo and freaked out the Pharisees when he ministered not only to Jews but also to gentiles. He associated with Samaritans and people from Decapolis. He ate with sinners and touched the unclean. There was no cultural norm that was more important than building the Kingdom of God. Our churches would do well to follow in His footsteps. In our churches, it’s easy to develop an us-versus-them mentality when we feel like out culture attacks our morals or threatens our principles. But Jesus never turned people away just because of their “other”ness. He welcomed the outcast to His table and sat with people the religious leaders wouldn’t risk being seen with. Unity starts when we lay down our tribalism at the cross and welcome everyone to our table too.
Romans 10:12
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”
All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. We believe in salvation through faith, so why are we so quick to question the righteousness of people from other denominations or faith traditions? Doctrine is helpful, but we have to remember to keep the main thing the main thing. If someone has put their trust in Jesus, it’s okay if they land somewhere else than you do on a secondary theological issue. You can even think they’re wrong without breaking unity. The world needs a unified church now more than ever. And though our debates are well intended, the enemy uses them to cause disunity and distract us from our mission. Theological debates don’t bring salvation. The blood of Jesus does. And it’s His death, burial, and resurrection which unify us into one family, one body, and one bride.
1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Division discredits our testimony. Division hurts people within our own Body. Division causes harm and destruction. As the church, we must do everything in our power to avoid disunity from happening. Being in agreement doesn’t mean we parrot each other’s opinions or think the same way about every issue. True unity comes from a desire to remain on each other’s side even when a conflict arises. It’s easy to talk about this in theory, but a good litmus test is looking at the history of your own church. Have there been church splits or groups of people that walked away? Why did that happen? Do you still love those people? Do you still associate with them and have a relationship with them? Do you still want the best for them even if you don’t agree? What about your community? Is your church connected with other churches in your city? Have you ever met together to serve with other faith communities or held an event where churches in your community could come together? A church with a heart for unity seeks out opportunities for this. They aren’t afraid of differing viewpoints or traditions because they worship the same Jesus and want their community to know the name of Jesus more than the name of their church.
One Body
Romans 12:4-6a
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
The Bible is filled with passages describing the Body of Christ and how it functions. This is the beauty of diversity in a unified church. Each person uses different gifts and plays a different role that benefits the whole community. We can celebrate this and equip people to thrive within their gifting and serve within their passion.
Ephesians 4:2-6
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Following Jesus is simple. It’s not always easy, but it is simple. We serve one God, have one faith, celebrate one baptism, and are unified through one Spirit. As we live this out every day, we radiate humility, gentleness, peace, patience, love, and hope that bring about unity. These verses exhort us to make every effort to keep unity. This requires effort from every believer, but it shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth. Devoted love and church unity happen as an overflow of our hearts and an overflow of our union with Jesus.
Ephesians 4:12-13
“…to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Maturity in Christ often comes with unity. When we see new Christians struggle with unity, we can call them “further up and further in,” as C.S. Lewis says. It’s natural for new believers to have such a passion and zeal that they may end up pushing people away or letting secondary issues take precedence. This isn’t a big deal, though. It’s just a natural part of growth, similar to how teenagers often push away their parents in an effort to gain independence. New believers will face growing pains just like the rest of us, but mature believers can teach and equip the church by modeling unity and humility for those growing in their faith.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”
I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4 in their entirety. These chapters discuss church unity and spiritual gifts in depth. The type of unity God desires for His church is unlike any other kind of unity we’ve experienced. It’s because of each member’s differences that it works. Our different backgrounds equip us to minister to different people. Our gifts enable us to serve the church through strengths that other people don’t have. We get to bear one another’s burdens by offering our strengths in areas where other people have a weakness. This is why spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body.
In Humility
Philippians 2:1-4
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Unity always starts with humility. Love always starts with selflessness. We must look to the needs of others above ourselves. We must seek to extend compassion to those we might not normally have empathy for. We must look for ways we can serve and elevate each other rather than fighting for power or importance. In a dog-eat-dog world, our unity stands out because it elevates the gifts of each person through self-sacrifice and humility. There is space for everybody in a community where no one is fighting to be on top. When we let Jesus be the king and humble ourselves before Him AND before each other, we can experience a unity where self-righteousness and pride have no room to grow.
Romans 12:3
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Our source of confidence and authority is Christ. When our worth is in Him, we don’t need to prove ourselves or protect ourselves. Then our community is healthy, and our self-esteem is balanced. We are not self-disparaging or insecure, but we’re also not haughty or self-righteous. We do not think of ourselves more highly than we ought because we know we were all saved through grace and not by our own works.
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
When we are devoted to one another, love each other, seek to serve one another, use our gifts to edify the body, and let the peace of Christ rule our hearts – we experience unity. It’s easy to look around at how divided our churches are and feel like unity is an impossible feat. But unity is a lot like salvation – we can’t achieve unity if we just try harder. That’s not how unity works. Unity starts in our hearts. It starts by examining our own sins and repenting of our own pride. It starts by exchanging our fear and self-protective strategies for God’s peace. And it happens when we are so connected to the Holy Spirit and so filled with selflessness that unity naturally follows.
Start Here:
These Bible verses on church unity bring us right back to John 17. Remember what Jesus prayed for us? He prayed that we would be one with the Father and Spirit, just like Christ was. That’s where it all starts. Unity is possible when every believer is focused on staying connected to Jesus, remaining humble, and insistent on serving one another even when differences arise. The Christian church is a church that should celebrate differences and eagerly join with every faith community they have access to to worship our wonderful Savior. It’s all about Him. If we keep our eyes on Him like Peter when he stepped out of the boat, then unity with His church will happen without trying. THAT’S a Christian testimony I can get behind. If the church became united like that, just imagine what could happen!
